Re: Languages with huge numbers of cases

In article <47d6280d@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"Paul J Kriha" <paul.nospam.kriha@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"Marc" <marc.adler@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:10e5af6d-7339-4268-a1ec-fe61fce588c3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Mar 9, 11:23 pm, "Peter T. Daniels" <gramma...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

If you've identified their history, more power to you. Joe's point is
that they _synchronically_ function as additional cases.

Not really, because it's only for certain words, and it's determined
historically. For example, you can't say 'v domu/o dome' - they're
both 'v/o dome.' In other words, it's not a productive distinction.

Further, there's one word, 'domoj,' which means 'homeward.' That -oj
ending is, as far as I know, not used on any other word. Should we
posit a separate case simply to explain this one form?

'Domoj' is just an adverb.
Aren't there many -ij and -oj adverbs like that?

pjk

Marc

According to Vasmer, it is from Old Russian <DOMOVb> (?ÓÏÓ?¸ for those who can read the Cyrillic).

He says that in light of the meaning, the explanation based on the I-E
locative singular in -i is untenable, despite what several linguists
have said. So he would, it seems, be saying it's just an adverb.

Cheers,
Keith
.

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